Bogart Takes you to Toronto

Toronto - the Capital of Canada! It is considered as a top financial center and one of the most diverse cities in the world. Capital of the province of Ontario it is considered as the most populous city in Canada. One of the things that I know is that Toronto is a relatively young city compared to its North American counterparts - from what I can remember from the tour guide it was founded around 17th to 18th century. Toronto is one big city by the Lake Ontario. It also has the highest cost of living among all cities in Canda.

Going around the city is not as easy compared to the better subway systems of London, Hong Kong and New york. But there are buses and trams all over the city that can take you anywhere you wish.

So what exactly do you do in this big city? I personally wasn't able to exhaust the possibilities of exploring the city as I was living one and a half hours away (Mississauga) but luckily I have the best tour guide to show me around - my high school friend, Charm Torres. She transferred here after graduating High school. Funny thing is like me it was also her first time to hop on a tour bus and explore the city. The Tour bus starts near the pier at the southern part of the city. It will take you to all the interesting places and historical sites of the city.

If you are into shopping, the best shopping district is in intersection of Yonge and Dundas, the Dundas Square. The largest mall in Canada is located here - the EATON Center. Yong street is formerly listed by Guinness book of world records as the longest street in the world. Yonge street contains A LOT of stag clubs and comparable to our very own Quezon avenue (Why is Quezon Avenue not that long, bummer)

I was here in September 08 and it was just in time for the Toronto International Film Festival. During these time everybody was hoping the Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston will cross path as both of them had movies participating for the said event. Brad Pitt for Burn After Reading and Jennifer Aniston for Management. Yeah Right like that will actually happen.

I also had a chance to watch a baseball game in their premiere sports arena - the roger center! One cool thing about this arena is that it has a retractable roof! Rogers Center, formerly known as the Skydome, is the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. They where up against the NY yankees. Alex Rodriguez sucked but the Yankees won the game anyway.

One of the trademarks of the city is the CN tower located near the Rogers Center. You can probably see it at every corner of Toronto. The Skyskraper is a communications and observation tower. Guinnes has also declared it as the world's tallest self-supporting or free standing structure. My friend told me that above the tower as an observation deck, a restaurant and some shops. The Tower lights up nice at night!

Bogart Takes you to Kent, England

One hour drive from greater London lies KENT - the Garden of England. It was called that because of the abundance of farms and orchards in this southeast region of the UK. The highways in England looks like NLEX except you go on the other side (you also drive on the other side of the car which I find amusing!)

I was able to visit two landmarks - the Canturbury cathedral and the Kent Castle. Thanks to the Ramos family, my Landlord for three weeks, who cleared their weekend to tour me to the country side of UK. Filipino families are just the best

First stop was the Canterbury Cathedral. If you may recall back in High school, we were forced by our English teachers to read a reaaaaaally long book that was set at this place - The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (who ever invented book notes - THANK YOU!). The Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Augustinian Structures in England. Considered as a World heritage site by UNESCO, this is the base for the Worldwide Anglican Communion.

I was supposed to pay £10 to get inside but the cashier thougt I was a student so he gave me a discount! I didn't exatcly lie, he told me to just pay £5 and I'm good to go! £5 is £5 (that's approx 450php)

The Church was showing signs of age but it was very metioulously mantained. I've probably seen some of the oldest stained glass windows which could be the hardest part to maintain overall.

Next stop was the Leeds Castle which is a picture perfect castle by the lake! If you ask a child to draw a castle The Leeds Castle will probably what he/she would have in mind.

You have to pay £16.50 dollars to get inside the castle premises. They call the ticket - Key to the Castle (how creative! hehe). No Student discounts this time around. The path to the Castle is a trek of lake viewing and duck watching so it's good for nature lovers!

Famous people who lived here were King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. The castle was opened to public during the 1970's (can't remember when exactly. Wasn't paying much attention to the tour guide hehe). Inside are rooms that will uncover how the past royalties lived.

Bogart Takes you to Wimbledon

Wimbledon is one of the four Grand Slam events in tennis. Wimbledon Tennis Champsionships (or the more politically correct term -The Championships, Wimbledon) is held every year for two weeks on the last week of June and frst week of July. Held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, this is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and considered the most prestigious. This is the only Grand slam event that is held on grass. I read from one of the posters while waiting at the queue that each grass is cut evenly at exactly 3mm long.

To go there, take the District line subway to Southfields and follow the POOL of people that are all there to watch the event. If you are not able to buy tickets ahead of time (like me) you will have to go to the WIMBLEDON QUEUE. Some people even camp out all night to be able to get in the following day. I went there twice and I had two hours waiting time (considerably shorter than camping out) for both days. Outside, there was a small walk-through of all the Caricatures of their past Champions showing the year they won and the legacy that they left.

The ticket to get inside the courts costs 20£ (approx 1750 php). Inside there are "free courts" where lesser important, I mean lower ranked players play. Dinara Safina used to play at these courts but look at her now! She's the current world number one (who knows how long though!)

There are two Main show courts inside - Court No. 1 and the Centre Court. I went to Court no. 1 twice and the First day was kind of bummer because Federer's game ended early and I wasn't able to see him play live. Good thing there was a big screen that shows what is happening inside the Centre Court. But I was lucky enough to watch on the second visit the Former World number one Ana Ivanovic (watch her crushed by her opponent J. Zheng). The game was followed by former US open and Australian open Champion Marat Safin (probably one of the most erratic tennis player in the league) against an Italian - Andreas Seppi

Be sure to enjoy the most popular food here at the Tournament - Strawberries and Cream. One small cup is priced £2.25 (190php) It will be the most expensive, ORDINARY tasting strawberries you will ever eat. But tradition is tradition!

In these Wimbledon event (2008) was played arguably the MOST EPIC tennis match of all time. The Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer Wimbledon Finals. With both men trying to write history - Nadal to win French and Wimbledon back to back, Federer to win Wimbledon for six straight years. It was almost 5 hours of near perfect tennis between the two and no one was willing to give up what's on the line. In the end, the man with the smaller nose, I mean, stronger determination won!

VAMOS RAFA!

Maybe next year Fed!

Images from Skyports and Wordpress (I wasn't there live anymore hehe)